Though national data shows that opioid use disorder (OUD) and deaths from overdose have been trending downward since 2023, new data suggests the opioid epidemic is far from over. Between 2022 to 2025, nearly 33% more people with an addiction to opioid drugs — which include morphine, heroin, pain relievers like oxycodone, and fentanyl — have … Read more
An alarming shift is emerging in US hospitals. A new study has revealed a disturbing rise in life-altering amputations nationwide, with one unexpected at-risk population seeing a particularly sharp increase in recent years. Even more concerning, those cases tended to be more severe, often involving loss of an arm or the upper leg above the … Read more
Just weeks prior to his death, Brandon Clarke was arrested for possession of kratom. The NBA player allegedly had nearly half a pound of it. But what exactly is it? According to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s launching a federal crackdown on 7-OH — the synthetic byproduct of the kratom … Read more
Time to crack down? The plant that’s been hailed as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder has also been behind a staggering 6,500% increase in poison center calls nationwide over the last decade and a half. Kratom trees are native to parts of Southeast Asia, and their leaves have grabbed the attention of the … Read more
Last week, researchers dropped a bombshell report on DFNZ, a developing new medicine derived from a class of drugs once considered too dangerous to even study. Their proposal sounded almost too good to be true: The drug might offer patients with chronic pain and injuries the benefits of an opioid without the threat of addiction … Read more
More good news in the battle against opioid addiction. Scientists have reopened research into a class of opioids that were once shelved from study — and have discovered a variant that’s a powerful pain reliever, but potentially much safer for sustained use. Though research into nitazenes, a long-overlooked synthetic opioid compound, was cut short in … Read more
Tiger Woods allegedly had two hydrocodone pills in his left pant pocket when he flipped his Land Rover in Florida and was subsequently arrested on DUI charges last Friday. While the drug is prescribed to treat chronic pain or manage pain after surgery or injury, using it is not without risks — and serious ones at … Read more
A dose of hope for opioid withdrawal. The process of getting clean from opioid addiction can bring on intense physical symptoms that can last for weeks. But promising new research suggests one zen activity could cut the time of opioid withdrawal in half, slashing symptoms like heart rate variability, anxiety, sleep issues and pain. Promising … Read more
Talk about a dose of disappointment. A new analysis suggests that millions of Americans with chronic pain are being prescribed an opioid that likely does little to ease their suffering. To make matters worse, the research indicates the drug significantly increases the risk of serious side effects — including heart disease, the nation’s leading killer. … Read more
Pencils, notebooks — and Narcan? Concerned parents of incoming college freshmen are adding the life-saving nasal spray to back-to-school lists this year — along with condoms, Plan B and more modern must-haves that might have been unthinkable a generation ago. And that’s just fine with students like Summer, 20, who said they prefer a matter-of-fact approach … Read more
It’s a green, mean, killing machine. At least according to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s launching a federal crackdown on 7-OH — a synthetic byproduct of the kratom plant. Sold widely in gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops, the opioid-like substance is drawing scrutiny for its potent effects and … Read more
Vape shops are popping up in every neighborhood in America, but few people — even doctors — know that many of these shops are selling a dangerous new opioid. It’s concentrated 7-OH, a synthetic byproduct of the kratom plant that binds strongly to the body’s opioid receptors — making it up to 13 times more … Read more
How nerve-racking! The anti-seizure drug gabapentin is used to treat epilepsy, nerve pain after shingles and restless legs syndrome by affecting chemical messengers in the brain and nerves. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headaches and nausea. Now, a new study out of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland warns that gabapentin can significantly increase … Read more
A real ache-ievement! Duke University researchers have devised a promising, potent pain reliever — seemingly without the harmful side effects and addictive highs of opioids. While opioids interact with numerous cellular pathways, the experimental drug is more selective. SBI-810 targets a receptor in the brain and spinal cord, activating a single pain-relief signal while steering … Read more
They say pain is all in the mind. Over 50 million Americans struggle with lower back pain — which an estimated 80% of adults can expect to experience at some point in their lives. Despite its prevalence, effective and accessible treatments have been elusive. In fact, researchers recently said most treatments are “barely better than … Read more
Chronic lower back pain is one of the top complaints that sends Americans to their doctors — and it’s a leading cause of missed workdays and disability claims. While slipped discs, arthritis and spinal problems are often blamed, for some, the real culprit is an infection. Now, there’s hope on the horizon for these patients. … Read more
Opioid overdose deaths have plummeted for addicts in a revolutionary treatment program on Staten Island, a new study shows — as officials look to expand it to help save more lives. There were two fatal overdoses among 612 people participating in the “Hotspotting” program compared to 14 deaths for 1,089 addicts not engaged, according to … Read more
Could sex hormones explain the difference in opioid use and misuse between genders? Since 1999, the American opioid epidemic has killed more than half a million people, and according to the National Institutes of Health, three quarters of those casualties were men. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests … Read more
Montel Williams has revealed how easy it was for him to acquire opioids because of his celebrity status during the height of his illicit use of the drugs. Williams, 68, detailed his past abuse of prescription narcotics while speaking with Maria Menounos on the Tuesday episode of her podcast “Heal Squad.” “As celebrities, we can … Read more
This could be a hard pill to swallow. An unhealthy diet, chronic insomnia, obesity and certain genetics can raise your risk of dementia, which destroys your memory, thinking skills and capacity to do basic tasks over time. Now, a board-certified anesthesiologist in Los Angeles is revealing five daily medications that may also increase your likelihood … Read more